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Sleep Country donates beds to women's shelter

Sleep Country Canada vice-president of community programs Lynn Martel, left, and co-founder Christine Magee, second from left, discuss with The Women's Centre Grey Bruce executive director Patty Kelly and board chair Denise Freeman, right, the new mattresses that the company is donating to the organization's shelter. DENIS LANGLOIS/THE SUN TIMES

Staff at The Women's Centre Grey & Bruce had just begun discussing ways to replace old, worn-out mattresses at its shelter when they received an offer from Sleep Country Canada.

“The e-mail came right when we needed it,” executive director Patty Kelly said Thursday.

The mattress retailer was opening up a new store in Owen Sound and, as part of its “commitment to community involvement,” had reached out to the charitable organization with a proposal to donate 15 new mattresses and bedding.

Kelly said the centre was in “desperate need” of the beds and staff were awestruck by the offer.

“The money for new mattresses is not in our operating budget at all so we were going to do fundraising to cover the cost,” she said in an interview.

Sleep Country Canada officials, including co-founder Christine Magee, were at the new Owen Sound store Thursday to announce the donation.

Eleven twin-sized mattresses were delivered to The Women's Centre shelter and another four mattresses and boxsprings were taken to its second-stage housing units.

Each bed came with new pillows, protective mattress and pillow covers and sets of sheets.

Kelly said thanks to the donation, The Women's Centre can focus on fundraising for other expenses, such as providing transportation to clients that need to get to appointments.

About 20 per cent of the centre's operating costs are not covered by government funding.

The Women's Centre operates an emergency shelter with 21 beds for women and children who are fleeing an abusive relationship. In the past year, several hundred women and children stayed at the shelter.

It also owns a second-stage housing complex, which has 10 two and three-bedroom units, for women and their children who have stayed at the shelter. Accommodation can be provided for up to one year so the families can work to rebuild their lives.

The organization also provides counselling services and a crisis/help line.

Kelly said The Women's Centre had already replaced some of its mattresses before Sleep Country announced its donation, but staff was trying to figure out how to buy many more.

“This donation is extremely important,” she said.

Magee said providing the new beds was one of the company's priorities when it opened for business in Owen Sound.

“It's something we could do right away to give back to this community and help these women and children get the restorative sleep they need,” she said.